Ecological sampling of living organisms | Starter Quiz | Oak National Academy

Match the word to its meaning.

• extinction

• the permanent loss of a species

• habitat

• the range of different species that live in a place

• conservation

• where an organism lives

• biodiversity

• activities that protect biodiversity and the environment

Answer explanation

Habitats are where organisms live. Biodiversity is the range of species that live in a place. Conservation is where the environment is managed to ensure species can survive. Extinction is when a species completely dies out and is lost forever.

What word means the mass of living material in one or more organisms?

Answer explanation

Biomass is the mass of living material in one or more organisms.

In a food chain there are a number of trophic levels. Which tropic level does a food chain diagram always start with?

• producer

• primary consumer

• secondary consumer

• tertiary consumer

• apex predator

Answer explanation

A food chain needs an organism at the start which makes all of the food for the rest of the food chain. These organisms are producers.

Look at the pyramid of biomass. Which organism is a producer?

• organism A

• organism B

• organism C

• organism D

Answer explanation

The first trophic level of a food chain is always represented by the bottom bar in a pyramid of biomass or a pyramid of number. As all food chains start with a producer, the correct answer is organism A.

Which statement about pyramids of biomass is true?

• Pyramids of biomass only show the numbers of organisms present.

• A bar higher up the pyramid can be longer than a bar lower down.

• Pyramids of biomass are always a pyramid shape.

Answer explanation

Pyramids of number may not be a pyramid shape because there may just be one producer, e.g. a large tree - feeding many consumers. But pyramids of biomass use the mass of individuals in each population in the food chain to make a pyramid shape.

An adaptation is a feature that organisms have to help them live in a particular place. Match each adaptation with how it helps the organism to survive.

• sharp spines

• helps a plant get water from deep underground

• long roots

• helps to trap more light to make food

• thick fur

• helps to insulate an organism in a cold environment

• big leaves

• helps by preventing sinking into soft ground such as sand

• wide feet

• helps to protect against being eaten

Answer explanation

Long roots will help plants to collect water. Thick fur helps animals keep warm. Wide feet prevent them sinking into the ground. Big leaves help plants to collect more light to make more food. Sharp spines help to protect plants against being eaten.